Obesity
What is Obesity?
Obesity is caused when extra calories, particularly from foods that are high in fat and sugar, are stored in the body as fat.
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or above, you are considered Medically Obese.
Why Do We Worry About Obesity?
A higher BMI increases your risk of developing long term conditions.
Obesity can cause:
- Depression and Anxiety
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Liver Disease
- Reproductive Complications
- Sleep Apnoea
- Asthma
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Osteoarthritis
- Back Pain
Referrals
Mid Sussex Wellbeing
Self-Referral
12 week face-to-face groups in East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.
- Motivation to make positive food choices
- Increase your physical activity
- Practical Ways to sustain healthy eating habits
- 45 Minutes of Healthy Lifestyle Chat
- 46 Minutes of light exercise for all abilities
Visit the Mid Sussex Wellbeing Website to find out more.
NHS Digital Weight Management
Self-Referral
12 week online behavioural and lifestyle programme.
- Access from your smartphone or computer
- Supports adults living with obesity, who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both.
Visit the NHS Website to find out more
Redicare
Up to 12 months of 1:1 online coaching and weekly webinars.
- Available for Patients living with Type 2 Diabetes, Non-Diabetic Hyperglycemia, Hypertension, NAFLD, PCOS and Obesity.
- For patients with BMI of 30+, or at high risk or increasing weight.
Ask at the surgery for more information.
Tier 3/4 Support
- For patients who have tried weight loss programmes previously with no success.
- Patients who are working towards bariatric surgery
- Patients with a BMI of 35+ with comorbidities, or 40+
- Weight loss medication referrals.
Ask at the surgery for more information
Lifestyle Changes
We understand that making changes can be difficult. It can be tough to know where to start, and things can feel overwhelming.
That's why we have put together some resources to help make these changes a little easier.
Becoming More Active
Who says becoming active has to mean joining a Gym? You can take steps to become more active from the comfort of your own home!
- Following a home workout video can be a great place to start, you can find some on the Better Health website, or by searching online.
- Did you know, there is free exercise equipment in many of the local parks and green spaces?
- Mid Sussex Wellbeing have created a list of locations of free outdoor gym equipment to help get you started!
- We have lots of resources linked on our Looking after Your General Health page, with ideas of small ways to be more active, even for those of us who aren't naturally sporty!
Changing your Diet
- Did you know, changing your Diet can be as easy as making some simple swaps?
- The NHS Food Scanner App suggests healthier alternatives to try, and shows you the salt, sugar and saturated fat content of the item you have scanned.
- You can find healthy recipe inspiration on the Better Health website
- Our Healthy Eating and Weight Loss Page contains recipes and information to help you to change your diet.
How do I calculate my Body Mass Index (BMI)?
To Calculate your BMI, you will need to know your height and weight.
If you do not have access to scales at home, these measurements can be taken using our Pod at the Surgery.
Put your measurements into the NHS BMI Calculator. It will also ask you for some details about your ethnic background to give you more accurate advice.
The BMI Calculator will display your result as a number, with one of the following weight categories. This will help you to know what support we can refer you to.
Under Weight
BMI of less than 18.5
Healthy Weight
BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
Over Weight
BMI Between 25 and 29.9
Obese
BMI 30 and over
Last Updated 15/05/2025